One thing I keep noticing from those out there that think Randall should be our starter, is that you automatically think if Russell gets the start then this season is a wasted season. What on earth makes you think that this season will be anymore of a waste if Russell starts as opposed to Randall? Up to this point, neither has really seperated himself from the other. In fact, Russell has 2 more TD's than Randall. At this point many would say that Rusell gives us the better chance to win and that starting Randall is a waste of a season. I'm even led to believe that Saban also feels this way since he seems to put Russell in during crunch time. I just wanna know where some of you get off saying that it will be a "wasted season" if Russell was to start from here on out. That makes no sense.
I agree with Tygrr. I think the coaching staff had Jamarcus in at crunch time, because they know he's a better downfield passer. If that's true we should be developing him now. It's pretty clear to me that we aren't going to win big with Randall so let's ride it out with the kid!
You have those who believe it should be MR and others that think it should be JR. I think a lot of MR and why people pull for him is his loyalty to the program and he is the underdog. Everyone likes the underdog. For what it is worth I played football from the time I was five years old till I was twenty one. This does not make me an expert by no means but it gives me a little more insight than most who post on this board. You have read time and time again that one Qb has not seperated himself from the other. This is wrong. You have a five year senoir that has no excuse not to exacute an offense that he has been a part of for at least four years. On the other hand you have a freshman that is just as effective as your five year senior. If that is the case then your best chance to win is with the guy that can get better not the one who is as good as he is going to get. You must have the ability to stretch the field. MR does not give you this. He can not throw the ball down field on a consistant basis. Sure JR is not much better but you can see he does have the potential to acomplish this. I as a player would rather have the guy who as least has the ability to give us what we need to win. In the SEC this is a running game with a passing game.JR does give you at least the potential to have both. You can see in the play calling that even the coaching staff has little confidence in MR abililty to throw the ball. This alone should tell you what you need to know
I couldn't agree with you more. Contrary to what I posted in my first post, I also think that Russell has seperated himself from Randall due to the fact that he is just a freshman playing just as good as a fifth year senior. I stated that neither has seperated himself to avoid argument from others, but I do believe that Russell has show more than Randall over the past three games. I also believe that Randall is as good as he's gonna get and if we stick with Russell, he'll only get better and better with each game. Whereas Randall doesn't seem to be getting any better after numerous games.
Look at Florida. They chalked last season up to bringing Leak around and went 9 and 3, not a bad season, and he is looking like a stud now. At Tenn (even though they lost) his numbers were sick. I think he was like 26 for 31 or something. Sick if JR can do that next season I think 9-3 is an ok price to pay.
but they lost. i agree he is awfully good though. would love to see him as LSU's QB. Our offense would be as good as our D. good combination.
It should not be forgotton that, due to scheduling, LSU has a tougher row to hoe in even-numbered years. This year our three toughest SEC opponents are on the road, next year, as in 2001, they will all be at home. LSU won the SEC in 2001 and 2003. 2005 will likely be our year again, but even-numbered years will require much more effort . . . and a lot of luck.
My take on this... Randall is a 5th year SR whose potential ceiling has been reached, he's not going to improve or become some great gunslinger. The coaching staff knows what they have with him and it's not going to get any better. With JaMarcus Russell he's a RS FR whose potential ceiling is unlimited and why not let him develop in game situations rather than in limited reps in practice. I'm going to get hammered for this, but look at the decision Phat Phil Fulmer made at Tenn - he had two SR QBs who both had limitations - Fulmer opted to go with the two true FR and see where their unlimited potential would take Tenn rather than the SRs knowing what he had in them and could go to them if needed. And on Saturday I think Ainge emerged as their QB by leading them to a huge victory over Florida. Remember when Tommy Hodson was the LSU QB as a RS FR, often times during the course of a game Mickey Guidry would come in an spell Hodson, especially if he wasn't having any success. This is what I think should happen with Russell and Randall. Russell is the future of LSU football and now that the Tigers have lost a game, I'd look for him to step into more of a starting role. Plus, Randall has shown in the past that he is more comfortable coming off the bench in a backup role - there's less pressure and everyone loves the backup QB. I will also add this, Jimbo's play calling and LSU's execution has been adversely affected by this situation as well.
